Twenty minutes passed and as she continued listening she removed the carrots and eggs and placed them in bowls. She then ladled out the coffee and placed it in a bowl as well. Then she asked her daughter…”What do you see?” She replied carrots, eggs, and coffee of course. The mother then asked her to feel the carrots; she did, and noted they were soft.

Her mother asked her to break the egg; she did, and noted the egg was now hard boiled. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to taste the coffee; again she did as her mother asked and tasted the rich flavor and wonderful aroma. Confused, she asked her mother why.

The mother then explained to the daughter that each of the items had faced the same adversity; boiling water. The carrot went in strong and hard but came out soft and weak. The egg went into the water fragile and protected by its thin outer shell but after sitting in the boiling water, it became hardened.

However, the ground coffee beans were different, after being in the boiling water…they changed the water. She then asked her daughter, which one are you?

When faced with adversity are you the carrots, eggs or coffee?

Are you the carrots that seem strong but when faced with hardships and difficulties you become weak and soft?

Or maybe the egg, which began with a fluid spirit but has been hardened by the challenges life has thrown in your path?

Or are you the coffee bean?

Do you face the challenges of life’s boiling water and make the best of the situation at hand?

How do you handle adversity?